Return bend



Nov. 10, 1931. J. E. GETZEN RETURN BEND 2 Sh eets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1950 A FIG..1.

J i mu INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1931. J. E. GETZEN RETURN BEND Filed Dec. 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR whiz $1M TTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN E. eE'rz'EN, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR m0 m1) 0. FANTZ, or WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI RETURN BEND My invention relates to that class of return bends described in United States Patent lflo. 1,752,331, issued to Fred C. Fantz, in wh1ch the device comprises a housing therefor comprising annular portions which encircle the ends of tubes, upwardly-extending side walls on said annular portions, webs which connect said side walls and annular portions, in-

ternal shoulders on said annular portions,- sectional bushings intermediate said tubes and said annular portions, said bushings being provided with means to abut the shoulders on the annular portions and the tubes,

there being slots formed in said side walls adjacent to their upper ends, movable plates fitted to said slots, and set screws in said plates, the inner ends of which engage said return bend. v

Return bends of that kind are'used to connect tubes which are nested in banks to form heating coils and the like, in hydrocarbon stills, cracking stills, or similar structures, wherein the oil is treated at very high temperature and is under extremely high pressure.

Practice has shown that under some conditions it is convenient to form the web, which connects the annular members and side walls, in two. pieces which may be joined together by keys, bolts, dovetail joints, or any of the well known mechanical means employed for such purposes.

'As shown in the Fantz patent, the ends of the tubes are upset to form the shoulders utilized to draw the pipes into tight union with the return bendf- When the ends of the tubes in the bank are threaded, a return bend of the Fantz type cannot be employed.

My invention has for its object, to provide a construction which canbe conveniently fitted to the threaded ends, thus permitting the refinery to employ the superior type of .bend known as the Fantz bend, even'though the tubes in the bank or nest are threaded.

It will also be seen in the hereinafter appended description that my invention provides a means for using threaded tubing with the Fantz bend-even though it is not mounted in the bank or nest for my device can be mounted on the tube before the installation in the bank.

My means of accomplishing the foregoing object may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which are hereunto annexed, and are a part of this specification, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away showing the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the housing made in two parts;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view in section, showing the manner in which the shoulders are secured to the tube.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entire description.

As shown in the drawings, the return bend comprises a housing which consists of two annular portions 1 and 2, which are adapted to encircle the ends of a pair of tubes 3 and 4. The annular portions 1 and 2 have pairs of upwardly-extending side walls 5 and 6, means are provided to connect the side walls 5 and 6 and the annular portions 1 and 2. In the drawings, I have shown a yoke or web 7, which may, as desired, be formed integral or the annular portions 1 and 2 and side walls 5 and 6 may be formed in two parts Sand 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, in which the adjacent webs 8 and 9 are secured together by a bolt 10, or may be connected in any suitable or convenient manner. I

The return bend 11 is mounted between the pairs of side walls 5 and 6, and each face. is preferably provided with an annular groove 12, in which fits a projecting annular portion 13 formed upon the upper part of the shoulder-forming member 14.

Though I have shown a specific type of joint which is preferable, it is apparent that any type of joint may be mployed for the tubes 3 and 4.- A shoulder 17 is formed on this member 14, which abuts a shoulder 18 walls 5 and 6, :so that the set screws 21,

when tightened against the abutments 22 which are cast or formed on the return bend 11, will draw-tubes 3 and 4 upwardly towards the return bend 11, insuring a tight joint.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the member 14 takes the place of the upset shoulders formed on the tubes, as shown in the Fantz atent.

A sectiona rin 23 may be employed, as shown in Fig. 2, in which it is mounted between the outside of the member 14 and inside of the annular members 1 and 2, to facilitate the mounting of the tubes 3 and 4 in the housing; or the annular members 1 and 2 may be made as described and illustrated in Fig. 1, where they abut directly the member 14.

From the foregoing it will be obviousthat by my improved shoulder member 14 I have provided means whereby the Fantz type of bend can be used on threaded tubes, and no upsetting of the tubes is necessary.

Though I have illustrated a specific form, this is only to depict a concrete embodiment of my invention, and I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the construction as illustrated and described, except as such limitations may appear in the claims.

Having described my invention, what I re-. gard as new, and-desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a refinery apparatus, means for connecting a conventional return bend to a pair of tubes having threaded ends comprisin a collar adapted to be threaded on each tu a housing member having substantially circular openings, the walls of which are adapted to interlock with each of said collars, and means carried by said housing for holding said collar and said return bend in assembled relation.

2. In a refinery apparatus, means for connecting a conventional return bend to a pair of tubes having threaded ends comprising): 7

' collar adapted to be threaded on each tu I a housing member having substantially circular openings, the walls of which are adapted to interlock with each of said collars laterally extending webs on said annular members, means to secure said webs to each other, and means carried by said housing for holding said collar and said return bend in assembled relation.

3. In a refinery apparatus, means for connecting a conventional return bend to a pair of tubes having threaded ends comprising a collar adapted to be threaded on each tube, a

housing member having substantially cir-- cular openings, the walls of which are adapted to interlock with each of said collars, a sectional ring mounted intermediate the collars and the walls of the circular openings, and means carried by said housing for holding said collar and said return bend in assembled relation.

JOHN E. GETZ-EN. 

